Kite string traverse device



July 12, 1960 R. w. SELLECK 2,944,775

' KITE STRING TRAVERSE DEVICE Filed April 5, 1957 INVENTOR. ROBERT n. SELLECK FHTENT AGE/VT nit -: Stgtgg The presentinvention relates to a kite string traverse device adapted to convey a toy parachute or airplaneto the elevation attained by a kite, and then to release the toy for a freefall to earth. a

f the prior devices employed for the attainment of this function, all of which I am aware are not commercially feasible, being composed of several elements whose assembly is diflicult. Moreover, they do not easily lend latent themselves to their supposed employment; use by chil: dren, since operational difliculties, such as in the attachment of the device to the string, are experienced.

Anobject of the present invention is to provide a simplified and operably eflicient kite string traverse de-' vice capable of being utilized by children without necessitating a complex assembly thereof. 7

A further object is to provide a kite string traverse device having a minimum number of parts, each of unitary construction and possessing great durability.

An additional object is the provision of a kite string Patented July 12, 1960 ice includes an elongated body 16 which is composed of a hard-surfaced, stifily-resilient material in the illustrated preferred embodiment thereof..' As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the body.16 has a modified, figure 8 cross-, section that is formed by'appropriate bending of a single sheet of ithermo-plastic material.

the sheet20 is bent to form an upper elongated tubu- More particularly,

lar channel 22 which depends therefrom and is rebent' to form a second elongated tubular channel 24. The sheet 20 thence returns to slightly lap under its beginning edge to form anormally-closed slot along the channel 22. and terminate in an arcuate, inward extension to form a third elongated tubular channel 26 positioned between the first and second tubular channels 22-and 24. The described arcuate extension substantially'closes'the middle channel 26 from the upper one but the middle and lower channels communicate through a narrowed opening 28.

As shown in Fig. l, the lower tubular channels 24 and 26 receive the respective parallel legs 34, 35 of a bent wire trigger30. The trigger 30 is in substantially U shape and has an unclosed loop 32 formed perpendicular to, and'at the end of the leg 34 which projects from.

the channel 26. The other leg 35 of the trigger 30 is shorter than the leg 34 and extends from the base of the U-shaped trigger 30 a distance substantially equal to:

the length of the bodylfi.

The trigger 30 is assembled into the body 16 by first longitudinally aligning the leg 34 with the tubular middle channel 26, and the leg 35 with the lowermost channel 24, and by then placing the base of the U-shaped trigger 30 againstthe forward edge of the body 16 immediately traverse device consisting of a body and a toy release trigger, both of which can be pre-formed and thereafter quickly assembled into joined operative relationship,

It is a further object to provide a traverse device which" can be mounted easily and quickly on the kite string but which will remain securely thereon during its utilization. 7

Another object is to provide a kite string traverse-device which maintains a low frictional contactwith the kite string so as to enhance its operability.

Traverse devices of the type pertinent to the present invention have most commonly been used to carry toy parachutes aloft for-eventual release and are efiFective for this purpose since the parachute provides enough surface area to be caught and transported swiftly up the string by even a slight breeze. However, other toys, such as certain small toy airplanes, present less surface area and it is accordingly another object of this invention to facilitate the carrying of such toys through the provision of an auxiliary transport member that can be conjoined operatively with the traverse device.

These and otherobjects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment shown in' the accompanying-drawing, in which: j

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of traverse device operativ'ely positioned on the string of a kite, 1 a v v Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section'taken on line. 2'2 of .Fig.

Fig.1'3 is a perspective view of the traverse device with an auxiliary transport member attached thereto,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of'the device of Fig. 3, taken on line -4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the transport member detached from the traversedevice.

As seen in Fig. 1, the kite string traverse device, generally indicated at 10, is supported upon the string 12 attached to a conventional kite 14. The traverse device adjacent the narrowed opening 28 between these channels 24, 26. Such opening 28 is smaller than the diameter of the wire of the trigger 30, as can be seen in Fig. 2,

but the plastic sheet 20 possesses suflicient resiliency to spread apart upon application of force, thereto. Hence, to assemble the kite string traverse device, the trigger 30, when aligned as described, is merely urged lengthwise into and through the body 16 until the base of the U-shaped trigger 30 extends out the opposite end of such body. The sheet 20 then will return to its original disposition, narrowing the opening 28 so as to prevent the trigger 30 from accidental withdrawal; When so assembled, free sliding movement of the trigger 30 within the body 16 is limited in one direction by engagement of the base of the trigger 30-With one end of the body 16, and inthe other direction by engagement of the.

, trigger'loops 32 with the other end of the body 16. As

can be seen in Fig. 1, this loop- 32 is aligned with the upper channel 22 when assembly is complete as described.

-An aperture 40 is provided in the wall 20* of the lowermost tubular channel24 at the bottom of said channel and positioned adjacent the forward end of the body 16.

where it is withdrawn therefrom. I r

The body 16 of the traverse device, having the resiliency hereinbefore mentioned, is quickly mounted on thekite string 12 by spreading the sheet 20 at its lapping enable the mounting nor need it be threaded .endwise.

juncture point (Fig. 1 and 2) so as to admit the string. 12 within the uppermost tubular channel 22. The an closed loop 32 likewise is guided over the string 12. It

will be noted that the string need not be 'broke'nfto through the channel 22 or loop 32.

A toy parachute to be conveyed up the kite string by the traverse device 10 is attached, as by means of a looped string or a perforated support tab to the leg 35 of the trigger 30 by positioning said looped string or perforated tab Within the aperture and then sliding the 3 trigger 30 until the leg 35 projects through such loop or tab. The trigger 30 thus functions as a releasable keeper for holding the parachute to be conveyed.

The parachute to be conveyed is released from the hand. after: securing it to the traverse device it), as just. describedt where pon the wind wilt carry the; toy and the entiretraversez device 10, therewith upwardly along. the. kite string: 12,. Upon reaching, the string yoke usually used to attach a kite. string, to a kite,;o1=. an intermediate; obstmction such as a button ls on the. kite ring 2,- the unclosed loop will be; stopped from further. up-- ward; movement. However,. the body 16} will: continue to advance with the. parachute until the leading ed e of body contacts the immobilized, loop 3.2. When this occurs, the body l6; will; haye naoyed' fiorward; relative to the trigger- 3.0: a distance sufficient; towithdraw' the. end of the leg 35. from the, aperture 40 i the body t6 and thus. automatically release the: conveyed; parachute for a free fall. to earth.

When the. traverse device lib is. separated fromthe parachute which carried it up thekite string 12,. it will; slide back down the string to. the point of. rigin since the traverse device itself presents. little surface: area; and gravitational forcewill effect such descent.

As illustrated in. Figs- 3, 4, and. 5, an auxiliary transport member can be employed with thetraverse device- 10 so that. toys of lesser surface area. can be carried up: the kite string in the same manner as previously outlined. for the transport of a toy parachute.

Such auxiliary transport member includes. a. support. 50, formed of the sameresilient thermo-plastic, sheeting as the body 16, this support 59 is preformed: to. asubstantially U-shaped cross-section and has a length approximately half as long as the body 16. The support 50 is; formed to provide a tubular channel 52 at the base. of the U and the extended legs of the U-shaped support are curved arcuately inward to intimately engage the exterior wall surroundingthelowermost channel 24 of the body 16. The arcuate legs of the support 50 arev urged apart by forcing them over the body 16' and the resiliency of the 'thermo-plastic material of which they are formed is' sufiijcient to secure the support 50 in a fixed position upon the body 16'. Preferably; the body 16 and the support 50 are dimpled as indicated at 53 to restrain relative sliding movement thereofi The tubular channel- 52 has extending therethrough a rubber air-supply tube 54 connected at one end to a toy balloon 55 or other expansible member. The other end of. the supply tube 54 still permits free passage ofair since. the tube is deformed only enough to secure the tab 56 by frictional engagement therewith. At its forward end, the support 50 is provided" with an aperture 57, so positioned that it overlies the aperture 40 of the body 16' when the support is aflixed to the body with the described dimples 53 in registry.

The free end" of the tube 54' to which the tab 56 is secured is ofia lengthsuch that when doubled back upon itself and positioned parallel to the body 16, an aperture 58 insaid tab may receive the leg 35 ofthe trigger 30, When so doubled back and securedby-thetri'gger' 30, the tube 54 is bent closed at thefold as indicated at 69 andair may not pass therethrough; Thus, a simple valve means is provided and. is controlled by thetrigger 30 which also controls release of the toy.

To. transport a toy in the. same manner as described in, connection. with the Fig, 1 structure, the userfirstinflates the,- balloon 55 a desired amount: (dependent on prevailing wind conditions, etc)". The tube 54 isthen doubled. back at the fold 60", and the. trigger-tab 56' is inserted in the aperture 4.0. of the. body 16together-with the looped, string attached to the toy. The trigger 30 taneously released. The balloon will then deflate but remains attached to the traverse device 10, by the support. 5G. The assembly will then gravitate to the user.

Various modifications and/or alterations in the described structure and: the manner of its fabrication can obviously be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is apparent that the body 16 of the traverse device could be formed by an extension process rather than by bending, as described. Consequently, the foregoing description of one embodiment is; to be: considered. as purely exemplary and.- not... in a, limiting sense; and. the. actual. scope. oh the invention is indicated by: the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A kite. string traverse: device. comprising a body formed into. three. superposed parallel channels by a. single resilient sheet beginning and ending in; lapping relation below the; uppermost. channel; and a trigger arranged within. the lowermost and intermediate. channels for. sliding movement therein] saidtrigger termed substantially a U-shape having. a relatively short leg and; a relativelylong leg; said long leg being extended into an. unclosed'. loop exteriorly oi. said body,,said lower most channehhaving' an aperture therein adjacent one end of said short leg.

2. A kite.- string traverse device comprising; a unitary body formed of a single sheet of material into three superposed parallel: tubular. channels,. said, sheet: termi-.- nating in an arcuate: extension that. laps below the beginning of said sheet and forms the: top. of the intermediate channel positioned between, the uppermost channel and: the lowermost. channel, said: lowermostchannel having an: aperture therein adjacent one end otsaidbody and a U-shaped trigger. having twov legs disposed for sliding movement in the intermediate and lowermost. channels, one leg of said trigger protruding exteriorly of: said. body and; having anuncloscd: loop formed on: the end thereof; said: tnigger; positioned for. sliding movement. from a position wherein the baseofi said U;-shaped-3triggen abuts one end of: said body: and: one; oi. said: legs overlies the aperture in the'lowermost: chamrel; to a position wherein the unclosed l'oop abuts the; opposite.- end. osaid. body, and" said one'leg is withdrawn: from said aperture;

3; A kite string'traverse' device accordingqtoiclaimi comprising a U shaped' support. arcuate: legs adaptedto engage: the. exterior of: saith lowermost chan.-- nel and ha ing an aperture.- adaptcm to register: withthe aperture in said; lowermost. channel; a. balloon and; supply tube on said support, and. a trigger: tab on said tube engageable by the leg of) said: trigger: withim the: apertures: to hold: said: air supply: tubein: a bent,, closed condition;

References Citedi intthefileof this. patent. v

UNITED STATES. PATENTS 7 9,004 Great Britain. of 19-10;-

Qua-er at 

